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Recap: ‘Elevator Pitch’ Competition and Wrap-Up

Imagine you have 1 minute to change the future of your business. How would you sell your business? What would you highlight? How do you make someone else believe in your vision?

Tonight, the contestants in the Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch were asked to do just that. Sell their dream to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,0000 from PepsiCo.

Hosted by comedy and film legend Robert Townsend, contestants were given one minute each to pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of judges. Judges included hip-hop legend MC Lyte, actor & producer Craig Wayans, Navarrow Wright, CEO of Maxium Leverage Solutions and Earl Butch Graves Jr., CEO of Black Enterprise.

The 10 contestants ranged from intimate wear for plus-sized women to haircuts for the disabled and everything in between. After delivering their pitch, each contestant was given pointers and critiques to help refine future pitches, as well as asked questions regarding their business from the panel. The pool was then reduced to five candidates who were given 30 seconds to revise their pitch, before a winner was selected.

Additionally, three attendees were selected randomly from the audience and asked to deliver a 30 second cold pitch with no time to prepare. The audience was asked to select a winning cold pitch by text message. The winner received a gift basket full of Pepsi, Oatmeal, Grits and other PepsiCo products.

The 3rd place prize went to Plate Date, who won $1500 dollars worth of executive coaching. The 2nd place prize went to Beauty Genie, who won $3000 dollars worth of executive coaching. The winning pitch came from Precious Williams, CEO and Creator of Curvy Girls Lingerie, a line of intimate wear for plus size women. Williams won $10,000 towards expanding and growing her business